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The Manayunk Bridge Trail, which opened in 2015, crosses the Schuylkill River, Interstate 76, and active train tracks, along a historic bridge that was opened to public use after several decades of disuse. In the process, the short but important trail linked two other popular trails in neighboring Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
About the Route
Open for non-motorized use, the Manayunk Bridge Trail offers sweeping views of the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill Canal, and downtown Manayunk. On the Montgomery County side, smile and wave at passing cars on I-76 below. At the trail's southern end in Bala Cynwyd trail users can seamlessly pick up the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.
In Manayunk, the trail ends at the intersection of Dupont Street and High Street, where the Schuylkill River Trail is located just nearby.
Connections
The northern end of the Manayunk Bridge Trail is located just off the impressive Schuylkill River Trail.
At the southern end of the trail, the trail connects to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail.
The Manayunk Bridge Trail is part of the Circuit Trails, a developing 800-mile urban network of trails in Greater Philadelphia.
Trail History
Opened in 1918, the Manayunk Bridge was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of their Schuylkill Branch, which carried passengers and freight from Philadelphia to a point near Delano (northeast of Pottsville). The line north of Manayunk was closed by Conrail—the successor to the Pennsylvania Railroad—in 1976. Subsequently, the regional transportation agency SEPTA took over the remaining line between Philadelphia and Manayunk, including the bridge, using it for service on its Cynwyd Line. Passenger rail was truncated from Manayunk’s Ivy Ridge Station to Cynwyd in 1986, after which point the Manayunk Bridge ceased to be used.
The Manayunk Bridge Trail runs between Dupont St. (Philadelphia) and Cynwyd Heritage Trail (Bala Cynwyd).
Parking is available at:
Parking and Trail access is also available from the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Bala Cynwyd. Access is also available via. public transit from the SEPTA station in Manayunk and Bala Cynwyd.
Please see TrailLink Map for all parking options.
I've only done this trail twice. Not being real familiar with Manayunk at the street level, both times I had to really search to find my way. There are signs along Main Street that point you up the hill on Green Lane, but then nothing. I don't think there is any sign to tell you to go left up Baker St. I also don't remember any signs along the Manayunk Canal trail to direct you up to the Bridge trail.
Once you find how to access the trail, it's wonderful!
The Cynwyd Heritage Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail are wonderful, with one glaring and dangerous exception. There is no easy direct linkage between the two trail systems even though they are two blocks away from each other. For everyone interested in continuing their wonderful journey, they are exposed to a very complicated and unregulated T offset intersection at Umbria and Leverington Sts. Whether walking, biking or running there is no safe way to go. Is there any plan in the offing to solve this issue?
All you need to do is look at the photos to see how beautiful this bridge is. Unfortunately it closes before dusk. Money is in place to light the bridge, but it's going to take a year or two to get through the process. The bridge will then be open 24/7.
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